Synod seeks cuts in liquor advertising

General Synod wants the NZ Government to limit alcohol advertising because of the damage it does to communities.

A motion brought by Mrs Margaret Butterfield (Christchurch) originally sought a complete ban on such advertising, in line with a resolution at the Christchurch Diocesan Synod last October.

However, Synod softened this demand because of the message it might send to moderate drinkers.

Earlier, Synod heard that New Zealand is caught in a primal, binge-drinking crisis.

Professor Doug Sellman, Director of the National Addiction Centre at the University of Otago, told Synod to take a stand in what he called a national crisis.

“We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to change the way we regulate alcohol in society. It is a national crisis and way of life and you have a role to address what science tells us needs to be treated as a class B drug.”

Archbishop David Moxon told Synod: “We as a church need to speak out and bring hope to what is a situation of hopelessness. And as we speak out we also need to look at ourselves.”

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ANGLICAN TAONGA is the communications arm of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia / Te Haahi Mihanare ki Niu Tireni, ki Nga Moutere o Te Moana Nui a Kiwa. TAONGA magazine is published three times a year and distributed to all Anglican ministry units and agencies. TAONGA also publishes occasional booklets on church, ministry and sacraments. The General Editor of TAONGA is accountable to the Communications Commission of General Synod / te Hinota Whanui, 200 St Johns Road, Meadowbank, Auckland 1742.